Steam-engine valve-reversing gear.



r '0. J. MELLIN.

STEAM ENGINE VALVE REVERSING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30| 914.

Patented May18, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. J. MELLIN.

STEAM ENGINE VALVE REVERSING GEAR.

APPLICATION HLED DEC.30. 1914.

l mfifi o Patented May18,1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Y 1 o I 3% i; E; i Q Q N K W:

WITNESSE I 7 47 :1 N5 l VENTOH I QZ/ZW) C. J. MELLIN.

STEAM ENGINE VALVE REVERSING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED 050.30.1914.

LlJL-(L3Q8o Patented May 18, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Fl G- 4-: LQ Q Q ;Q l.

C. J. MELLIN.

I STEAM ENGINE VALVE REVERSING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30. 19M- 1 l im o Patented May 18, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

FIG- I2.-

'0. J. MELLIN.

STEAM ENGINE VALVE REVERSING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED 0:50.30. 1914.

l l-w fiwo Patented May 18, 1915.

6 SHEETSSHEET 5.

' fie i w mF'IGJQL-r C. J. MELLIN.

STEAM ENGINE VALVE REVERSING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, I914- hmm ggg Patented May 18, 1915.

6 SHEETSSHEET 6- r g /wma WITNESSES: g

rimran snares Parana ornrcn CARL J. MELLIN, 0F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, iASSIGNOI-Yt TO AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. if, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STEAM-ENGFNE VALVEREVERSING GEAR.

marinas.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1%, 1915.

I Application filed December 30, 1914. Serial No. 879,677.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL J. MELLIN, of Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Steam- Engine Valve Reversing Gear, of

which improvement the following is a specithe engine; and the capability ofimmediate release and readjustment as desired, be afforded.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view, in elevation, of a locomotive engine, illustrating the application of my invention in connection with a Walschaert valve gear; Fig. 2, a side view, in elevation, of the reversing cylinder and its accessories; Fig. 3-, a plan or top view of the safne; Fig. 4, a vertical longitudinal central section through the reversingcylinder; Fig. 5, a vertical transverse section, on an enlarged scale, on the line a a of Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a side view, in elevation, of the lower central portion of the reversing cylinder, showing the arm for actuating the operating valve and the resisting springs thereof; Fig. 7, a view, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal central section, of

the operating valve and its casing and connections;

Fig. 8, a transverse section through the operating valve and its hash ing, taken in the plane of the ports; Fig. 9, a partial side view of the operating valve and longitudinal section through its bushing, showing the ports; Fig. 10, a view,

partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal central section, of the double seated check valve and its casing; Fig. 11, an end View, in elevation, of the guides of the reversing cylinder cross head; Fig. 12, a view, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal central section, of the friction relievmg mechanism; Fig. 13, a vertical longitudinal central section through the reversing cylinder, illustrating the application of a structural modification of the operating valve; Fig. 14, a vertical transverse section through the cross head and guides, showing in elevation the valve casing of Fig. 13; Fig. 15, a front view, in elevation, and on an enlarged scale, of the valve casing of Fig. 13; Fig. 16, a vertical section through thesame, on the line b b of Fig. 15; 17

a view, in elevation, of the manually ioperated valve disk, as seen from the right; Fig. 18, a similar view of the motor operated valvedisk, Fig. 19, a similar view of the valve casing, with the valves removed; Fig. 20, a transverse section, on the line 0 0 of Fig. 16; Fig. 21, a similar section, prodnced rectilinearly, through the valves and valve casing, illustrating the relation of the ports; and, Fig. 22, a view, in elevation, of the lever arms of the valves.

My invention, which is applicable in connection with any of the various known types of distribution valve mechanism, is illustrated in Fig. 1 as applied on a locomotive engine, for the control of a WValschaert'valve gear of the ordinary construction, which comprises a link, 1, eccentric rod, 1*, combination lever, 1 and radius bar, 1, and is coupled to a distribution valve stem, 1 The radius bar is coupled to the lower arm, 2 of a reverse shaft, 2, and is raised and lowered throughout its range of traverse on the link, 1, by the action of fluid pressure, to change the direction of movement of the locomotive, or vary the point of cut OK, as the case =may be, by my improved reversing mechanism, hereinafter described, which is coupled to the upper arm, 2 of the reverse shaft.

, In the practice of my invention, I provide a fluid pressure reversing cylinder, 3, which is suitably supported in any convenient position relatively to the valve gear upon which it acts, being, in this instance, located below the cab of the locomotive. The supply oaf motive fluid to the reversing cylinder is effected and controlled 'by a manually operated reverse lever, 4, journaled on a bracket or support, 4 in the cab, and work ing over a toothed segment,4 with which it is engaged, as desired, by a pivoted latch lever, 4. The cylinder, 3, is fitted with a properly packed piston, 5, fixed on a piston rod, 5, which passes through a stulfing box, 3*, in the forward head, 3*, of the cylinder. A cross head, 6, is secured to the forward end of the piston rod, saidcross head being fitted to slide between an upper fixed guide bar, 7, which is rigidly secured at its rear end, and for a substantial portion of its length forward thereof, to the cylinder, by.

bolts, 7*, and a lower movable guide bar, 7, which is pivotally connected, at its rear end, to the cylinder, by a bolt, 7 and is coupled, at its forward end, to a locking mechanism, hereinafter described. The rear portion of the fixed guide bar, 7, is fitted truly against angular fac'es"on the cylinder, these being formed, in the instance shown, on one side of, and at the bottom of, a longitudinal flange, 3, cast on the cylinder, which'might, equivalently, be longitudinally grooved for the reception of therear portion of the guide bar. The long bearing on the cylinder 7 ,which is thereby afforded, renders external .hinged to the body of the cross head by av -reversing cylinder.

up to its seat in the bushing, 11, by a spring,

su port for the guide bar unnecessary, and efl cts the self alinement of the guide bar. If, however, an external support is considered to be advisable, the'forward end of the fixed'guide bar, 7, may, as shown. in Figs.

2, 3, and 11, be secured to a bracket, 7,'

properly attached to the locomotive. The cross head bears on the lower guide bar, preferably through a shoe, 6", which 1s pivot, 6. The cross head carries a pin, 6", which is coupled, by a reach rod, 8, to the upper arm of the reverse shaft, 2. The forward end portion of the lower guide bar, 7", may be outwardly inclined, relatively to the axial line of the cylinder and piston rod, as shown in Fig. 2, when the angularity of the reach rod so requires, and said guide bar is connected to an automatically operable looking mechanism, the construction of which will be presently described.

The supply and exhaust of motive fluid to and from the opposite ends of'the reversing cylinder, 3, are directly effected by a ported operating valve, 11, which, as embodied in the construction shown in Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive, is of the oscillatory plug type, and is fitted to be moved about its axis in a bushing, 11*, which is fixed in a; valve casing, 3, formed on the lower side of the The valve, 11, is held 11 Motive fluidis admitted to the valve casing through a supply conduit, 10, leading from a source of air or steam supply, and is port 10, leading to the atmosphere. Induction and eduction ports, 10", 10'',lead from the valve casing to opposite ends of the reversing cylinder, said ports being in open communication, respectively, with ports, 10 and 10 in the valve bushing, 11 in which there are also formed a port, 10", which is in open communication with the supply conduit, 10, and a port, 10,-which is in open communication with the exhaust port, 10. Communication between either of the induction and eduction ports, 10 and 10, and the supply conduit, 10, is established through one or the other of two radial ports, 11, and a communicating diametrical port, 11, in the operating valve, and communication between either of said induction and eduction ports and the exhaust port, 10, i's'established through a circumferential exhaust cavity or recess, ll in the operating valve.

The projecting end or stem of the operat ing valve, has secured upon it an arm, 12, which is coupled by a pin, 12*, to the lower end of a floating lever, 13, the upper end of whichis coupled, by a link, 14, to the cross head, 6. The floating lever is also coupled,

intermediate of its ends, by a link, 15, to an upwardly projecting arm, 16, on ahorizontal rock shaft, 16, which is provided with the upper guide bar, 7, and is, in turn,

coupled, by a link,20, to afric'tional clamping and releasing mechanism, comprising a piston, 22, which is fixed on a rod, 21, to

Y which the link, 20, is connected, and is fitted totraverse in a horizontal cylinder, 23, se- I cured to the upper side of the reversing cyllnder, 3; a sprmg, 24, bearing on the piston, 22, and on one end of the cylinder; and

means for admitting fluid under pressure 23, from either end of the reversing cylinder. In the form shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 10, these means comprise a valve chest, 25,con-

nected .at its ends by conduits, 25, 25 with the opposite ends of the reversing cylinder, and connected intermediately with the cylinder, 23, of the clamping and releasing mechanism, by a conduit, 25, and a double seated check valve, 26, which is fitted to traverse longitudinally in the valve chest,

25, andto open and close communication between the cylinder, 23, on the side of its piston, 22, opposite that on which the spring, 24, bears, and one or the other (according to itsposition) of the conduits, 25, and 25.

In order to enablethereverse gear to be manually operated, in the event of breakage of the plplng connected to the reversingfcylfrom the reversing cylinder to the cylinder,-

ma eaa inder, or the failure of motive fluid supply therefor, a toothed bar, 27, extending parallel with the reversing cylinder, is coupled, at its forward end, to the cross head pin, 6 and its teeth are engaged, adjacent to its rear end, by a pinion, 28, fixed upon a hori-,

zontal shaft, 29, one end of which is squared to receive the hub of an operating bar. By the manual rotation of the pinion, 28, the cross head and connected reach rod and reverse shaft may be moved in either direction, as may be desired. In the ordinary handling of the engine, it is usually found desirable to restrict the degree of opening of the operating valve, and for this purpose, two light spring blades, 30, may, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 be secured to the outer end of the operating valve chest, on opposite sides of the arm, 12, of the valve, said springs oflering, an increasing resistance to the movement of the arm and valve, from starting to full port opening, when a dead stop is reached. The engineer can increase the speed of the reversing cylinder piston by increasing pressure on the hand reverse lever, and normally only half the port opening is used.

Taper plug valves of the type hereinbefore described have, insome cases, been found objectionable, by reason of sticking, due to expansion when steam is used as the motive fluid of the reversing cylinder, although it is believed that this objection has been fully overcome by making these valves of steel. If, however, it is deemed to be of sufiicient importance to make the adoption of a different type of operating valve desirable, this may be effected by the application of a rotating disk valve, as, for example, by the 40 structural modification illustrated in Figs. 13-to 22 inclusive, in which two rotatory disk valve sections, 11, and 11", are substituted for the single plug valve, 11, before de-.

scribed.

The valve section, 11, abuts against a flat face in the valve casing, 3, and is formed integral with, or fixed upon, a tubular stem, 11, which is fitted to'be moved about its axis in a bearing forming an extensionv of the casing, 3, and bored to receive the stem. A lever, 13, is fixed to the outer end of the valve stem, 11, and is coupled, at its upper end, by a link, 14, to the cross head, 6, as in .the construction first described. The valve section, 11, abuts against the inner fiat face of the valve section, 11?, and is formed integral with, or fixed upon, a stem, 11?", which is fitted to. be moved about its axis in the tubular stem, ll a The valve stem, 11,

valve casing, and motive fluid, as steam or compressed air, is admitted to said casing, between the cap, 3 and the valve section, 11 through a supply pipe, (not shown), which is connected to a threaded tubular projection, 3 on the valve casing.

The induction and eduction ports, 10 and 10, of the reversing cylinder, are in open communication with the upper ends of ports, 8 and s, respectively, which ports are formed in the valve casing, 3, and are open, at their lower ends, to the outer or left hand side of the valve section, 11. Two inlet ports, t and 15, extend through said valve section, in position to be brought into communication with the cylinder ports, 8 and 8, respectively, and an exhaust slot, u, which is curved concentrically with the axis of the valve section, is formed therein, between the ports, zf'and t, said slot being in constant open communication with a final exhaust port, Q), in the valve casing. Two inlet ports, w, w, extend through the valve section, 11", and an exhaust cavity, as, is formed therein, between said ports, and on the side of the valve section adjoining the valve section, 11 the main portion of said groove being curved concentrically with the common axis of the sections, and its end portions extending radially outwardly a sufficient distance to communicate with two ports, t, t, and two grooves, 3 3 which are formed in the face of the valve casing, 3, and which are curved concentrically with the common axis of the sections.

It will be obvious to those skilled in valve construction and operation, that the specific hand reverse lever and the cross head, may

be made, respectively, with the inner and the outer valve sections, instead of with the outer and the inner sections, respectively,as

shown in the drawings, the port arrangement being correspondingly adjusted, but the construction shown is preferable by rea-.

son of the-easier working of the outer valve section. The relative movement of the hand lever arm and floating lever is properly limited by stops, so as to prevent over-travel or fouling'of the gear, and, while the upward extenslon of said arm and lever, as shown,

is preferable, as resulting in the better angularity, length, and throw thereof, the operating connections may, if desired, be made on the opposite side of the valve, or the valve ports may be correspondingly changed in position.

The operation of a reversing gear substantially as hereinbefore set forth, will now be described. In normal or inoperative ppsition, that is to say, when the valve gear of the reversing cylinder and the connected reverse shaft, 2, firmly against movement in either direction. Whenit is desired to adjust the valve gear in either direction, the latch lever, 1, of the hand reverse lever, 4, is released from the segment, 4, and the reverse lever is moved in the appropriate direction, such movement, which the pin which couples the cross head connecting link, 14, to the floating lever, 13, acts as a fulcrum, actuating the operating valve, 11 or 11, and admitting motive fluid to the reversing cylinder, 3, on the side of its piston, 5, proper to eflect movement in the direction desired. A portion of the motive fluid which is thus admitted to the reversing cylinder, passes therefrom, through the conduit, 25*, or the conduit, 25", as the case may be, to the casing of the double seated check valve, 26, which'it forces to itsseat at the end of the opposite conduit, andpasses from the. casing, through the conduit, 25?, to the cylinder, 23, of the clamping and releasing mechanism. Said piston is thereby forced to theri'ght, overcoming the clamping action of he spring, 24:, and releasing the lower guide ar, 7, from its locking pressure on the cross head, 6, which is then, with its connections,

moved in the desired direction by the pressure-on the piston, 5, of the reversing cylinder. The movement of the cross head and its connections continues so long as the engineman continues to move the hand reverse lever. Upon the cessation of the movement of-the reverse lever, the pin which couples the hand lever connecting link, 15, to the floating lever, 13, becomes. a fulcrum, and the movement of the cross head, through the link, 14, moves the operating valve in the opposite direction andcuts off the supply of motive fluid from the reversing cylinder. This successive admission and closure can, for movement in either direction, berepeated in steps, or effected by a single movement of the reverselever, up tothe limit of traverse of the reverse lever on its segment. The reversal of position of the operating valve by the movement of the cross head, exhausts the -motive fluid from the reversing cylinder and the cylinder of the clamping and releasing mechanism, and the spring of the latter thereupon locks the gear in adjusted position, in which it remains until another movement of the reverse lever,

in one or the other direction, is made by the engineman.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a valve reversing mechanism, the combination of a fluid pressure reversing motor, a manually operable valve controlling said motor, a link-pivoted to the cross head and to the controlling valve, for automatically effecting the closure of said valve,

able by the admission of motive fluid to the motor, for releasing said locking means, and means, opera-ble by the closure of the controlling valve, for engaging said locking means. k

3. In a valve reversing mechanism, the combination of a fluid pressure reversing cylinder, a piston fitting therein, a piston rod fixed to said piston, a cross head thereon adapted for connection to a valve gear, a cross head guide bar fixed to the reversing cvlinder, a cross head guide bar pivotally connected to said cylinder, and means for gla mping the cross head between said guide ars.

4. In a valve reversing mechanism, the combination of a fluid pressure reversing cylinder havinglongitudinal bearing faces at an angle one to the other, a piston fitting said cylinder, a piston rod fixed to said piston, a cross head thereon adapted for 'connection to a valve gear, a cross head guide bar fitteda'gainst the longitudinal bearing faces of the reversing cylinder, bolts securing said guide'bar to the cylinder, a cross head guide bar pivotally connected to said cylinder, and means for clamping the cross head between said guide bars. a 5. In' a valve reversing mechanism, the combination of a fluid pressure reversing cylinder, a piston fitting therein, a piston rod fixed to said piston, a crosshead thereon adapted for connectionto a valve gear, a

cross head guide barfixed to thereversing cylinder, a cross head guide bar pivotally connected to said cylinder, a movable abutment, connections coupling said abutment to the pivotally connected guide bar, and a spring acting on said abutment in direction to exert clam ing action of said pivotally connected gui e bar on the cross head.

6. In a valve reversing mechanism, the

combination of a fiuid'pressure reversing cylinder, a piston fitting therein, a piston rod fixed to said piston, a cross head thereon adapted for connection to a valve gear, a cross head guide bar fixed to the reversing cylinder, a cross head guide bar pivotally connected to said cylinder, a supplemental fluid pressure cylinder, a piston fitted therein, a conduit leading from the reversing cylinder thereto, and connections coupling said piston to the pivotally connected guide bar.

7 In a valve reversing mechanism, the combination of a fluid pressure reversing cylinder, a :piston fitting therein, a piston rod fixed to said piston, a cross head thereon adapted for connection to a valve gear, a combination of a fluid pressure reversing cylinder, a cross head guide bar pivotally connected to said cylinder, a supplemental fluid pressure cylinder, a piston fitted therein, a conduit leading from the reversing cylinder thereto, an automatically operable valve controlling communication between said conduit and opposite ends of the reversing cylinder, and connections coupling the piston of the supplemental cylinder to the pivotally connected guide bar.

8. In a valve reversing mechanism, the combination of a fluid pressure reversing cylinder, a piston fitting therein, a piston rod fixed to said piston, a cross head thereon adapted for connection to a valve gear, across head guide bar fixed to the reversing cylinder, a cross head guide bar pivotally connected to said cylinder, a fluid pressure clamping and releasing cylinder, a releasing piston fitted therein and coupled to the pivotally connected guide bar, and a locking spring bearing on said piston in opposite direction to that of fluid pressure thereon. 9. In a valve reversing mechanism, the

-c0mbinati0n of 'a fluid pressure reversing cylinder, a piston fitting therein, a piston rod fixed to said piston, a cross head thereon adapted for connection to a valve gear, a manually operable valve controlling said reversing cylinder, a link pivoted to the cross head and to the controlling valve for automatically effecting the closure of said valve by the movement of the reversing cylinder piston, means, automatically operable by the closure of said valve, for normally locking the cross head in each of its adjusted" positions, and means, actuated by the admission of fluid pressure to the reversing cylinder, for releasing said cross head.

10. In a valve reversing mechanism, the combination of a fluid pressure reversing cylinder, a piston fitting therein, a piston. rod fixed .to said piston, a cross head there on adapted for connection to a valve gear, a valve mechanism for-effecting admission and exhaust of motive fluid to and from said cylinder, a manually operable armconnec ed to said valve mechanism and eflecting its opening movement, and a link pivotally connecting said valve mechanism to the cross head for eflecting its closing movement by the movement of the cross head.

11. In a valve reversing mechanism, the combination of a fluid pressure reversing cylinder, a piston fitting therein, a piston rod fixed to said piston, a cross head thereon adapted for connection to a valve gear, a manually operable reverse lever, a valve for admitting motive fluid to the reversing cylinder, an arm fixed to said valve, a link coupling said arm to the reverse lever, and springs fixed on opposite sides of said arm and adapted to oppose increasing resistance to its movement in either. direction toward full opening position.

12. in a valve reversing mechanism, the combination of a fluid pressure reversing cylinder, a piston fitting therein, a piston rod fixed to said piston, a cross head thereon adapted for connection to a valve gear, a manually operable reverse lever, a valve for admitting motive fluid to the reversing cylinder, a floating lever coupled, at one end, to said valve, a link coupling the opposite end of the floating lever to the cross head, and a link coupling said lever, between its ends, to the reverse lever.

13. In a valve reversing mechanism, the combination of a fluid pressure reversing cylinder, a piston fitting therein, a piston rod fixed to said piston, a cross head thereon adapted for connection to a valve gear, a cross head guide bar fixed to the reversing cylinder, a cross head guide bar pivotally connected to said cylinder, a valve for admitting motive fluid to said cylinder, a manually operable arm fixed to said valve and efiecting its opening movement, a link connecting said arm to the cross head for effect ing the closure of the valve by the movement of the cross head, an automatically operable clamping and releasing mechanism, and connections couplin said mechanism to the pivotally connected cross head guide bar.

14:. In a valve reversing mechanism, thecombination of afluid pressure reversing cylinder having longitudinal bearing faces, a piston fitting said cylinder, a piston rod fixed to said piston, a cross head thereon adapted for connection to a valve gear, a cross head guide bar fitting against the longitudinal bearing faces of the reversing cylinder and secured thereto, valve mechanism controlling the movements of the piston, and a linlt pivoted to said valve mechanism and to the cross head.

15. In a valve reversing mechanism, the combination of a fluid pressure reversing cylinder having longitudinal bearing faces, a said cylinder, a piston rod ed to sai piston, a cross head thereon adapted for connection to a valve gear, a

cross head guide bar fitting against the 101ivalve mechanism, for imparting closing gitudinal bearing faces of the reversing cylmovement to the valve mechanism by the 10 inder and secured thereto, a valve mechamovement of the cross head.

nism controlling the supply and exhaust of 5 motive fluid to and from the piston, manu- I im/ I CARL E S 1 ally operable means for imparting opening Witnesses:

movement to said valve mechanism, and it WILL W. HAMBLY,

link pivoted to the cross head and to'the E. I. SCHAUBER. 

